Stakes raised in war crimes row

Tokyo - The Prime Minister, Tomiichi Murayama, indirectly threatened to quit if right-wing members of his coalition block a resolution to apologise for Japan's atrocities during the Second World War. Mr Murayama's statement that he would act with "grave determination" - which is generally taken to mean resignation or a general election - raised the stakes in the battle over the resolution, which has come to occupy centre stage as Japan considers how to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the war's end.

AP